Caster



D. H. CHASON.

EASTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPTT. 25. 19:8.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

' INVENTOR WITFIESSES fi" 4 vi ATTORNEY PATENT QFFIE.

DANIEL H. CHASON,,OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CASTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Original application filed March 12, 1918,.S eria1 No. 221,880. Divided and this application filed September 25, 1518. Serial No. 255,685.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL H. OHASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to casters, and more particularly to casters adapted for use in combination with hollow or socketed furniture leg members, such as shown in my copending application Serial No. 221,880, filed March 12, 1918, and of which this application is a division.

The objects of the invention are to provide a strong, rigid and durable caster and socket construction which will be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble or separate, and which will require no removable parts in securing the caster in its socket.

The invention in its preferred embodiment comprises a hollow or socketed furniture leg member having hollow lateral ex tensions at its end and recesses formed in its wall between said extensions. A caster member comprising an arched or U-shaped support or strap is adapted to snugly fit in said leg member at a point opposite said extensions, a roller being journaled between the opposed legs of the support and movable within said extensions. The free ends of the strap carry bearing flanges which fit in the recesses of the leg member and limit the inward movement of the caster member.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture embodying the improved caster and hollow leg construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of one of the legs and its accompanying caster. Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the caster and leg assembled. Figs. 4; and 5 are perspective views showing the leg member and caster member, respectively, in disassembled relation.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an article of furniture, in the embodiment shown a sewing machine stand, having legs terminating in hollow or socketed portions 2. In the present instance these portions are formed of complementary sheet-metal halves crimped together at opposite points, the crimped portions 3 forming reinforcing ribs. At the ends of the leg portions 2 and oneach side of the ribs 3 the walls are cut away, forming recesses 4 with a projecting rib end 5 between. At points diagonally opposed to ribs 8 the walls are formed with lateral hollow extensions 6, for a purpose to be later described. The lower ends of the extensions 6 are beveled or cut away as shown at 6, in order to prevent them from catching in rugs or carpets when the machine is moved.

The caster member comprises an arched or U-shaped support or strap 7, the free ends of which are bent outwardly and horizontally to form supporting flanges. The strap 7 is preferably formed of elastic material, which will cause it to frictionally engage the walls of its socket. A notch is cut in each flange, forming a recess 8 and spaced projections 9. A pin 10 connects the free ends of the strap 7 and a roller 11 is journaled on the pin.

In use the caster member is inserted in the leg member with the projecting portions of the roller disposed in the lateral extensions 6, and the legs of the U-shaped strap in frictional engagement with the walls of the leg member. As the caster member moves inwardly the projections 9 enter the recesses 4, and the projections .5 on the ribs 3 enter the recesses 8 in the strap, thereby preventing any further inward movement of the caster and holding it in proper position.

While in the present embodiment the leg member is shown as hollow, it is evident that the caster is equally applicable for use with a solid leg which is properly recessed at the end.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. The combination with a socketed leg member, of a caster comprising an inverted U-shaped strap fitted into the socket of said leg member, said strap being formed at its free ends with outwardly extending lips to limit the distance to which the strap may be inserted in the socket, a cross-pin supported by said strap, and a roller journaled upon said cross-pin.

2. The combination with a socketed leg member, of a caster comprising an inverted U-shaped strap fitted into the socket of said leg member, said strap being formed at its free ends with outwardly extending lips, a

cross-pin supported by said strap, and a roller journaled upon said cross-pin, said leg member being formed with recesses to receive said lips.

8. The combination of a hollow leg member having reinforcing ribs, a caster member adapted to fit in said leg-member, and sustaining flanges carried by said caster member and having recesses engageable by the ends of said ribs.

4. The combination of a hollow leg member having at its end opposed recesses formed in its walls, and a caster member adapted to fit in said end and having sustaining flanges engageable with said recesses.

5. The combination of a leg member having a hollow lower end, a caster member adapted to fit in said end, and opposed projections and recesses carried by each of said members for limiting the inward movement of the caster member in the leg member.

6. The combination of a socketed leg member, a caster adapted. to be frictionally held therein, and cooperating recesses and projections carried by said leg member and caster for limiting the inward movement of said caster.

7. The combination of a socketed leg member, a caster having an arched bearing member adapted to frictionally engage the interior of said socket, and interengaging recesses and projections carried by the lower ends of said members, for limiting the inward movement of said bearing member.

8. The combination of a leg member having a hollow lower end with opposed hollow lateral extensions, a caster roller adapted to enter said extensions and having an arched support adapted to engage the walls of said leg member between said extensions, and

means for limiting the inward movement of said roller.

9. The combination of a leg member having a socketed lower end, hollow lateral extensions at said end having beveled lower portions, and means for supporting a caster roller in said extensions.

10. A caster comprising an inverted U- shaped strap, the legs of which are adapted to frictionally engage the side walls of a socketed supporting member to detain the strap therein and the legs of which strap are formed at their free ends with outwardly extending lips adapted to limit the extent to which the strap may be inserted in the socketed supporting member, a cross-pin supported by said strap, and a roller journaled upon said cross-pin.

11. A caster comprising a substantially U- shaped support, the legs of 'which are adapted to frictionally engage the side walls of a socketed supporting member to detain the support therein, outwardly extending recessed bearing flanges at the free ends of said support adapted to limit movement of the support into a socket, and a roller j ournaled in said support.

12. A caster comprising an arched support, the free ends of which are adapted to frictionally engage the side walls of the socketed supporting member to detain the support therein, bearing flanges carried by the free ends of said support adapted to limit movement of the support into a socket, and a roller supported by the opposed sides of said support.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

DANIEL H. OHASON. 

